Apparatus for mixing air and gas for illuminating purposes.



PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

H. L. KARGER. APPARATUS FOR MIXING AIR AND GAS FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7,1903.

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A'TTUF/VEYJ- No.797,361. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. H. L. KARGER.

APPARATUS FOR MIXING AIR AND GAS FOR ILLUMINATING PURPOSES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7.190s.

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APPLICATION FILED JULY 7,1903

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' APPLICATION FILED JULY 7.1903.

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No. 797,361. PATENTED AUG.15, 1905.

H. L KARGER. APPARATUS FOR MIXING AIR AND GAS FOR IILJLUIVIINATINGJPI'J'RPOS113a APPLICATION FILED JULY 7.1903.

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HEINRICH LOUIS KARUICR, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIELA$ GIESELLSCIIA FT MIT IIIGSUHRIINKIEH HA FT UNG, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

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Patented Aug. I5, I905.

Application filed July 7, 1903. Serial No. 164,553.

To fill whom it 'llbll/f/ con/corn:

Be it known that I, IInINmou: LOUIS .KAR- GER, engineer, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at 26 I rankt'urter Alice, Berlin, in the Empire of titer-many, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Mixing Air and (ias ior Illuminating Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

It is already known in illui'ninating installations in which the increased gas-pressure is obtained by means of a motor in constant operation to regulate the pressure by the arrangement 01 a circulation-conduit. Hitherto such circulation-00nduits have been employed only in installations in which one kind of gas only has been placed under a high pressure. In accordance with this invention uninterruptcd operation is provided for by means oi. circulation-coi'idnits in appliances for mixing gas and air and also for the supply 0 l? the mixture at a high pressure, so that in this case both air and gas or two diflerent kinds oi gas are sucked in and forced out. The suction of the two kinds of gases may be effected either into a common chamber or into separate chambers. The employment of a special circulation-pipc for gas and another for air is not possible, because exact coi'iperation of the valves leading back to the pressure-main is unattainable.

In order that both kinds of gas may retain the mixing pro iortious originally decided upon, it is essential in accordance with this invention that the same excess-pressure valve should cause the obturation o1 thegas-supply pipe and also at the same time that of the airsupply pipe by the transmission of the pressure, while at the same time communication is established between the suctioirchamber and the forcing-chamber or with the serviccmain. When this is the case, the suction and :Iorcing of air and gas no longer takes place, but the suction and forcing of a ll'lIXlJlllC ofgas and air from the pressere-chambers through the common valve into the circulation-pipe. Provision must not only be made for the simultaneous obturation of the supply-valves for the gas and air, however, but also that under normal conditions, when the circulation-pipe is inoperative, the gas shall not be able to pass to the air-conduit. This may be effected by the arrangement of special non-return valves between the gas-conduit and the air-conduit or by the special manner of placing the suction-valves for gas and air in the circulationconduit so that they cooperate. After the obturation of the gas-conduit and of the airconduit has been eilccted it is possible, as shown in the various constructional forms illustrated, for the suction of the gas-and-air mixture into the forcing-chamber of the suc tion and forcing device to take place either through the gas-supply valve or through the air-supply valve, or through both. This lat ter is advantageous, because an increase of resistance in the suction and forcing apparatus is obviated, which would otherwise take place ita'i'ter the circulation-pipe were rendered operative the whole of the gas-and-air mixture to be supplied had to pass through one only of the suction-valves.

A further improvement consists in the fact that the air-suction valve also serves as a non return valve. In this case the special valve which would otherwise be necessary for obtnrating the aiifi'supply pipe is not required.

The resistance during the suction of the gasand-air mixture may also be still further diminished, owing to the fact that the circulation-conduit is directly connected with the operative chamber of the suction and forcing apparatus. In this case there is arranged in front of the obti'irating members which cut oli' the admission of gas and air a special non return valve, which normally works idle, but which when the circulation-pipe is operative is maintained closed by the excess pressure, and thereby cuts oil the supply of gas and air. This arrai'igement is especially advantageous in the case of link-motion or positively-operated gas and air admission organs.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which---- Figure l illustrates the construction of an apparatus for producing a mixture of gas and air by means of separate suction and forcing appliances. Figs. 2 to 5 show various con structional forms with only one suction and forcing appliance for supplying both gas and air. Figs. 6 to 8 illustrate diil'erent arrangements of valves upon a larger scale.

In the constructional Form represented in Fig. 1 the suction and forcing appliance 1 serves for the gas and the suction and torcing appliance 2 for air. The appliance 1 is provided with a gas-suction valve 3, connected to the gas-conduit I, and with a forcing valve 5, which is connected to the gas-pressure. conduit 6. ln the gas-supply pipe is mounted a non-return valve 7, which opens in the direction of the suction-valve 3 under the gas-pressure. The air suction and forcing appliance 2 is provided with the air-suction valve 8 and the forcing-valve 10. The valve 8 is in communication with the air-supply pipe 9. The air-pressure conduit is connected to the valve 10. In the air-supply pipe 9 is mounted a non return valve 12, which opens in the direction of the suctionvalve 8. The two conduits 6 and 11 unite, so as to form the pressurepipe 13, which leads to a pressure-reservoir, gasometer, or the like 1 1 for the reception of the mixture of gas and air, from which latter the servicepipe 15 leads. The pipe 13 may also serve directly as the service-pipe.

The conduit16 is directly connected to the reservoir let, or it may be connected, by means of a pipe 22, with the pressure-pipe 13. The conduit 18 leads to the conduit-section 20 of the gassupply pipe 1, lying between the nonreturn valve 7 and the gas-suction valve 3, and the conduit 19, also connected to the conduit 16, leads to the portion 21 of the airsupply pipe 9 between the non-return valve 12 and the air-suction valve 8. In the branch 18 of the circulation-conduit is mounted a nonreturn valve 23, which opens in the direction of the pipe-section 20. This valve serves to prevent the passage of gas from the gas-pipe 4. into the pipes 18 19, and thus into the airsupply pipe. In the same manner a non-return valve 23 may be arranged in the branch 19.

In the conduit 16 is arranged an excess-pres sure valve 17, which is adapted for adjustment to various pressures. The excess-pressure valve here represented is provided with a membrane 56, which carries the obturatingbody 17. This valve is constructed in such a manner that it opens when excess pressure acts in the direction of the arrow (1 from the reservoir 14 on the membrane 56. The operation of this installation is as follows: By means of the suction and forcing devices 1 2 gas and air are sucked through the valves 3 8 and forced through the valves into the common pressure-pipe 13, which conducts the mixture of gas and air to the container 1% and the service-main 15. If the pressure in the container 14: or the service-main 15 exceeds a given limit gas is produced than is consumed-the valve 17 is opened by the excess pressure acting upon the membrane 56. The mixture of gas and air then passes from the container 1 1 through the pipe 16 into the branches 18 and 19 of the circulation-pipe. The gasand-air mixture entering the branch 18 reaches the section 20 of the gas-supply pipe .1 and closes the non-return valve 7. 1n the same manner the mixture entering the branch 19 closes the when, for example, more 2 the common rod 32 for both valves and may valve 12. The excess pressure, therefore, simultaneously closes the gas-supply pipe 1 and the air-supply conduit 9. The suction and forcing appliances 1 2 then suck through the two valves 3 and 8 a mixture of gas and air and force it through the valves 5 and 10 back into the common pressure-main 13 and into the container 14. No suction or forcing of gas and air therefore takes place until the pressure has again fallen in the container 14 or in the service-main 15, so that the valve 17 will close automatically. The non-return valves 7 and 12 are then able to open and gas and air will again be sucked in.

As the suction-valves for gas and air are closed simultaneously the mixing proportion originally decided upon is maintained when the circulation-pipe becomes operative. hen an excess of pressure occurs, the admission of gas and air is prevented and the gas-andair mixture is returned to the container 1 1 with the same composition as that with which it is withdrawn therefrom. A further important point is that the gas-and-air mixture is sucked through both the suctionvalve 3 for the gas and the suction-valve 8 for the air. By this means the suction and forcing appliances are always required to perform the same work independently of whether they are used for the suction of one kind of gas or of a mixture, so that a strain upon these devices varying withthe demands upon the service-main is prevented. By this means better working conditions and more efficient operation are obtained.

Inthe installation represented in Fig. 2 a common suction-chamber 27 is provided for the and air. The air-suction valve 8 is in this case arranged behind the gas-valve 3. The two valves 3 and 8 are arranged behind the common inlet-passage 28 to the suctionchamber 27 in such a manner that the gas and air permeate each other and become mingled before admission to the suction-chamber 27. As shown in Fig. 6, in which the two valves are represented on a larger scale, both the valves 3 and 8 are arranged in a common casing 29, the air-valve 8 being below the gasvalve 3. Between the two valves is situated a union 30 for the connection of the gas-supply pipe. In its lower part the casing 29 is provided with apertures 31, through which air is sucked into the suction apparatus during the suction operation. The obturating member 8 of the air-valve is displaceable upon be submitted to the action of a spring 33 tending to apply it to the valve-seat 3 1.

As there is only a single suction-chamber, only a single pressure-valve 35 is provided. The circulation-conduit 16 18 connects the pressure-main 13 with the gas-supply pipe 1.

During the suction period in the suction and forcing apparatus the obturating members 3 and 8 are raised from their seats, so

that the gas conducted through the pipe 4: 20 and the air entering through the openings 31 can reach the passage 28 and the suction chamber 27, from which the mixture reaches the pressure-main13 through the valve 35. A'container or the like may be connected to the pressure-main or it may lead directly into the service-pipe. W hen an excess of pres sure occurs in the pressure-main 13, the mix ture 01 gas and air enters the branch pipe 16 and passes through the valve 1'? into the pipe 18 and the length 20 of the gas-supply pipe. As soon as the mixture of gas and air reaches thislengthof pipe 20 on the one hand the nonreturn valve 7 is maintained closed by the excess pressure, thereby cutting oil the supply of gas from the valve 3, while on the other hand the mixture of gas and air enters the chamber36 between the two obturatingmemhers 3 and 8. The member 8 for cut-ting off the air-supply, which is mounted loosely upon the rod 32, is pressed upon its seat 34, so that the air entering through the apertures 31. can not reach the gas'obturating member 3, and therefore no air will enter the suction and :l'orcing apparatus during the suction period. When there is an excess of pressure in the pipe 13, when suction is produced in the suction and forcing apparatus only the valve 3 will be lifted, and. through the opening so produced the gas-and-air mixture which has previously passed through the apparatus will be sucked out of the conduit 16 18. (lensequently in this case when an excess of pressure occurs in the service-pipe both the gas and air supplies are cut oil and the predetermined proportions of the mixture of the two kinds of gases are maintained as the apparatus sucks in the mixture ojl. gas and air.

it is not absolutely necessary to connect the circulation-conduit 16 18 to the gas-main, Fig. 52, or to the gas and air conduit, Fig. 1. it may be arranged in the manner shown in lTig. 3, where it is not in conumiinication with either of these conduits, but is still able to produce the obturation ol the said conduits by means of an excess of pressure within it. In this case the valve-casil'ig 29 is provided with a second union socket 37, to which the circulaticm-conduit 16 18 is connected. Within the casing 29 a special obturating member 38 also provided and is under the influence of a spring 39. in this installation a nonreturn valve 24L is arranged in the branch 18 ol the circiilation-conduit. This valve opens in the direction 01? the suction and forcing apparatus and closes toward the valve.

When, owing to excess pressure in the service-pipe, the excess pressure valve 1.7 is opened, the mixture of gas and air passes from the conduit 13) through the circulationconduit 16 18, opening the valve 24, into the upper chamber T0 0.1. the valve-casing 29, presses upon the obtura-ting member 38 and maintains it in the closed position until the normal pressure is reestablished in the service-pipe. Owing to the fact that the obturating member 38 is maintained closed, the valves 3 and 8 are no longer influenced by the suction action in the apparatus 1 2, and neither gas nor air enters this :mparatus. Only the mixture of gas and air previously produced is sucked in. Obviously the transmission of pressure to the circulatioi'i-conduit is here prevented during the forcing period of the apparatus by the provision of the valve 24-," because during that forcing period the valve 24 is closed. Thi. of special value, because it obviates chatteril'ig of the valve 17. In this installation the air-obturating member 8 may be dispensed with, as shown in Fig. 7. The gas-supply pipe communicates with an annular passage 11, from which proceed radial openings 42, opening in the seat-face of the gas-obturating member 3. The radial arrangement oi the gas-outlet passage 12 presents the advantage that a moreintimate mixture of gas and air is produced.

in liig. 4- an installation is illustrated in which a cormnon suction and forcing appa rates for gas and air is provided and in which the circulation-conduit opens into the gaseonduit and into the air-supply conduit. The gas-supply conduit 4: 20 and the air-supply conduit 9 21 are in this case connected to the inlet-valve casing 29. The branch 18 of the circulation-comluit is in communication with the gas-supply pipe 1 and the branch 19 with the air-supply pipe .21..

Nhen there is no excess of pressure, the gas entering through the conduit 4; closes the valve 93, so that the passage oi gas from the conduit 4 into the air-supply conduit .21 is prevented. During the suction period the gas enters the suction apparatus 1 2 through the valve 3 from the conduit 20, the air through the valve 8 from the conduit 21. The mixture of gas and air is forced into the pressure-main 12) through the valve 35.

When an excess of pressure occurs in the service pipe 15 or in the container 14, it extends to the conduit 16 and opens the valve 17, so that the mixture of gas and air partly enters the conduit 19 and partly the conduit 18. By this means the non-return valve 12 in the air-supply pipe 9 and the non-return valve 7 in the gas-supply pipe -i are closed. \Vhen the suction period is reached in the apparatus 1 2, a mixture of gas and air is sucked through the valves 8 and 5-}. The same crosssection is therefore available tor the passage of the gas-and'air mixture as was before provided for the passage of the gas and the air. As soon as the excess of pressure ceases the valves 17 and 23 again close and the valves '7 and 1.2 are opened by the suction action so that gas and air are again sucked in.

When a pressure collector or container is provided for the reception of the mixture of gas and air, as shown in Fig. 5, the regulation of the valve 17 of the circulation-conduit may be effected by the movable bell 45 of the said container, which when the predetermined quantity of the mixture is present cuts oif a further supply. To this end a rod 46 may be fixed to the bell or dome 45 and provided with an inclined plane 47. Upon the rod 46 travels a roller 48, mounted upon the rod of the Valve 17. When the bell 45 rises, theinclined plane 4 gradually approaches the roller 48. The roller 48, and with it the obturating member of the valve 17, is displaced in the direction of the arrow 7) against the action of the spring 49, and the valve 17 is thereby opened. It is then possible for gas-and-air mixture to pass from the container or from the pressure-main 13 through the conduit 16 into the conduit 18, the non-return valve 7 in the gas-supply pipe and the non-return valve 12 in the air-supply pipe are closed, and gas-and-air mixture is sucked through the valves 3 and 8. WVhen the quantity of gasand-air mixture has decreased by a predetermined amount, which is dependent upon the length of the inclined plane 27, so that the bell descends, the rod 46 releases the roller 48 and the valve 17 closes under the influence of the spring 49. As there is then no excess pressure to maintain the valves 7 and 12 closed, gas and air will again be sucked into the apparatus 1 2 during the suction period;

The closing of the air-suction conduit when excess pressure occurs in the service-pipe may also be produced, owing to the fact that the excess-pressure valve directly displaces an obturating member for the air-conduit. (See Fig. 8.) The obturating member 17 of the excess-pressure valve may be provided with a rod 55, carrying a membrane 56. A lever 53, articulated to a rod 54, is connected to the valve-rod 55, and by means of a rod 52 it is connected with the obturating member 50, pivoted upon the pin 51.

\Vhen excess of pressure occurs in the service pipe, the gas-and-air mixture passes through the conduit 16 under the membrane 56, which owing to the excess pressure bulges upward and lifts the rod 55. By this means the obturating member 17 is lifted from its seat, so that gas-and-air mixture is able to enter the conduit 18. At the same time, however, the flap-valve 50 is rotated by the intermediary of the rods 53 and 52 in such a manner as to close the air-admission aperture. The gas-supply conduit is obturated by the closing of the non-return valve 7. In this arrangement it is essential that the connection between the excess-pressure valve and the airobturating member 50 should be obtained in such a manner that the said obturating member 50 only closes the air-supply conduit upon the opening of the excess-pressure valve and return of the excess pressure, but remains open during the suction and forcing of the air.

In carrying the invention into practice suction and forcing valves of any suitable construction may be employed. The obturating members for the gas and air conduits may be of various kinds. The suction and forcing apparatus may be arranged either vertically or horizontally. They may have either one or two cylinders and be single or double acting and provided with valves positively operated by levers 43 44, these levers being actuated by twin cams 43 44", Fig. 4, or by valves controlled otherwise. Pumps with rotary pistons may also be employed as suction and forcing apparatus. The essential point is that in all cases upon the opening of the excess-pressure valve and return of the excess pressure both the closing of the gas-supply pipe and of the air-supply pipe shall be effected.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a circulation-conduit, means for inducing circulation therein, a pressure-valve connected with said circulation conduit and controllable by pressure therefrom, an air-inlet and a gas-inlet connected with said circulation conduit, and means actuated by air-pressure, controlled by said pressure-valve for cutting oif the supply of gas and the supply of air.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of pumping mechanism adapted to work at a constant rate of speed, means for supplying gas and air to said pumping mechanism to be admixed therein underpressure, a circulation-conduit, a pressure-controlled member connected with said circulation-conduit and adapted to open for the purpose of relieving excessive pressure of said admixture of gas and air, the opening of said pressure-controlled member being independent of the speed of said pumping mechanism, and valve mechanisnr for simultaneously checking the inflow of both gas and air when said pressure-controlled member is open.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of pumping mechanism, means for supplying gas and air thereto so as to admix the same, a circulationconduit connected with said pumping mechanism, a pressure-controlled member for relieving excessive pressure of said admixture of gas and air, and automatic valves actuated by pressure of said admixture and controllable by said pressure-controlled member for shutting 011' the supply of both gas and air.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of pumping mechanism, means for supplying gas and air thereto so as to cause said air and gas to be admixed thereby, a circulation-conduit connected with said pumping mechanism, a pressure-controlled member connected with said circulation-conduit, for relieving the excess of pressure of the admixture of said gas and air, and valve mechanism actuated directly by pressure of an admixture of gas and air and controllable by said pressure-controlled member for simultaneously shutting off the supply of gas and the supply of air.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of pumping mechanism, means for supplying air and gas there into so as to admin the same, a valve controlling the air-supply, a cireulation-eomluit connected with said pumping mechanism and with said means for supplying said air and said gas thereinto, said circulation-conduit being provided with a pressure controlled member for relieving the excess oi pressure of said admixture of gas and air, and valve mechanism connected with said circulationconduit and controllable automatically by pressure of the admixture therein for closing said valve controlling said air-supply.

6. The combination of a container, pumping mechanism connected therewith :t'or forcing thereinto an admixture of gas and air, a circulation-conduit connected with said container and with said pumping mechanism, a pressure-controlled member connected with said circulation-conduit and with said pumping mechanism for the purpose of permitting a portion of said admixture to flow under an excessive pressure from said container through said circulation conduit to said pumping mechanism, the action of said pressure-controlled member being independent of the speed of said pumping mechanism, and a check-valve connected with said circulationconduit and free to open in one direction only when said pressure-controlled member is actuated.

7. The combination of a container, pumping mechanism connected therewith for forcing thereinto an admixture of gas and air, a circulation-conduit connected with said container and with said pumping mechanism, a pressurc-controlled member connected with said circulation-conduit and free to open by back pressure from said container when said back pressure reaches a predetermined limit, the opening of said pressure-controlled member being independent of the speed of said pumping mechanism, and a valve connected with said circulation-comluit and free to open in a direction leading toward said. pumping mechanism when said pressure controlled member is opened, said valve being normally closed.

8. The combination of pumping mechanism provided with inlet-valves to be opened and closed for admitting gas and air, a pressurepipe connected with said pumping mechanism and adapted to receive therefrom an ad mixture of said gas and air, a circulation-conduit connected with said pressure-pipe and with said pumping mechanism, and means controllable by excessive pressure of air and gas within said pressure-pipe for controlling the closure of said inlet-valves.

9. The combination o'l pumping mechanism provided with inlet-valves for admitting air and gas, said inlet-valves being controllable by pressure of an aeri'lorm body, a pressurepipe connected with said pumpingmechanism and adapted to receive therefrom an admixture of said gas and air, a circulation-conduit connected with said n'essure-pipeand said pumping mechanism, said circulation-conduit being in communication with said inlet-valves and adapted to direct an aerii'orm pressure against the same, and a pressure-i 'alve connected with said circulation-coluluit, said pressure-valve being normally closed but free to open when the pressure within said conduit exceeds a predetermined limit, so that pressure from said circulation-conduit may close said inlet-valves.

10. The combination of pumping mechanism provided with inlet-valves for admitting gas and air, said inlet-valves being controllable by pressure of an aerii orm body, a pressure-pipe connected with said pumping mechanism and adapted to receive therefrom an admixture of said gas and air, a normally closed eirculation-comluit connected with said pressure-pipe and with said pumping mechanism, said circulation-comluit being also in communication with said inlet-valves, and a pressurecontrolled member connected. with said circulatiorrcomluit and actuated by pressure therefrom, for the joint purpose of opening said circulation-conduit and of allowing pressure from said circulation-conduit to close said inlet-valves.

11. The combination oi pumping mechanism provided with valves, a pressure-pipe connected to said pumping mechanism and adapted to receive therefrom an admixture of gas and air, valve mechanism located intermediate of said pumping mechanism and said pressure-pipe to prevent retrogression of said admixture, a circulatioil-conduit connected with said pressure-pipe and said pumping mechanism, and a pressure-valve connected with said circulation-conduit, said pressure-valve being normally closed but free to open when the pressure within said circulation-conduit exceeds a-certain n'edetermined limit.

Iln testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 19th day of June, 1903.

.lliEINltlUll LOUIS liAlthiElt.

Witnesses:

IIIGNRY llnsrnu, WoLnnMA'a ll A'mrr. 

